Homemade Dog Food for Toy Dogs

The Toy Dog breed group is made up of small dogs, typically bred for companionship, rather than work. Popular toy dog breeds include the Chihuahua, Yorkshire terrier and Pug. Most toy breed dogs have high energy levels and are constantly on the go, so the food you prepare for your pet should reflect this. It's easy to prepare homemade food for your pooch, provided that you have the right nutritional information, ingredients and tools. Feeding raw meat is an easy and effective way of delivering the right nutrition.

Things You'll Need

  • Spoon
  • Fork
  • Measuring cup
  • Bowl
  • Raw meat
  • Vegetables
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Instructions

  1. Instructions

    • 1

      Get the right ingredients. Your dog's breed, lifestyle and age will determine precisely which nutrients are important. Small breed puppies grow faster than large breed puppies (See References 2), so toy dogs will require more fat and protein, especially during their early years. Off cuts and offal from your butcher, such as liver and tripe, are cheap, high in protein and easy to prepare. Chicken and turkey contain lots of protein. For the right fat, oily fish, flax seed oil and even olive oil are excellent.

    • 2
      Make sure your kitchen implements are not tainted with human food.

      Clean your equipment. It's important to ensure that none of the equipment or tools you are using are contaminated with food that is bad for dogs. Thoroughly wash all utensils before preparing your dog's homemade meal. Although dogs have a very robust digestive system, food such as chocolate, grapes and raisins can cause illness, so be careful not to contaminate the food.

    • 3

      Prepare the meal. Do not cook any of the meat you are serving. In the wild, dogs eat raw meat, so don't worry about your dog eating uncooked meat. If you are feeding poultry or fish, remove any thin bones. Gently boil the vegetables to make them softer and mash them in with the meat. If you wish to, warm up some meat gravy and pour it over the meal. Be very careful not to over or under feed the dog. The recommended amount to feed a dog depends on the calorific content of the food and the breed of the toy dog. Use your dog's weight as an indicator of whether you're feeding the right amounts.

    • 4

      Serve the food to your dog. Make sure the bowl is clean and not overfilled. Make sure your dog has plenty of water to drink with the meal.

    • 5

      Monitor your dog's energy levels and weight. If your dog appears to be lacking in energy after a week or so of eating your homemade food, consider adding slightly more protein to its meals. If your dog gains weight, you should consider reducing the portion sizes you are feeding and if it is losing weight, increase portion sizes. If weight loss persists, always consult your vet.